William h



(ModeL) W. H. POX.

COMBINED PAPER FILE AND COVER.

N0. 367,614. Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

Q 0 o o 0 Q izcizman Jr:

N. PETERS, Phowutm n hu, Wlfllingmn. 0.1:.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

YVILLIAM H. FOX, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF PART TO PHILIP E.GREEN AND ROBERT \V. GREEN, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED PAPER FILE AND COVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,614, dated August2, 188"].

Application filed December 30, 1885. Serial No. 187,158. (Model) I To(ZZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, TILLLIM H. FOX, of the city of St. Louis, in theState of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful 1111-,

provement in Combined Paper Files and Govers, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in whichto Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device with the hasps closed onthe pins. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view with the hasplifted from the pins. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective viewshowing the locking device in the same position as in Fig.

1. Fig. 4. is an enlarged perspective view of a modification, showing ahollow pin and perforating-needle incased within it. Fig. 5 is anenlarged detail perspectiveview of the flyleaf.

My invention relates to a device for filing way-bills and other papers;and my invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fullydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters designate like partsin the several figures, A represents one of my improved paper-files, andB B the covers, which are provided with a stiff split back,G G,and rect-0 angular back-straps D. The covers are glued or otherwise secured tothe stiff split back, forming a hinge-joint. These straps at their lowerturn have a flange, D, to which are attached the vertical pins F. Theupper part 5 of the strap forms a hasp, D which is perforated at D", sothat it can readily be closed over the point of the pin and lock thefile, securing the papers in the block.

Locking-catches H at each end of the block are pivoted to onecompartment of the split back, and their slotted apertures H engage inthe catch-pins I of the locking-straps I, that are secured to the other,and thus rigidify the split back when the book is closed.

5 Short additional straps G, that cross the joint of the split back giveit additional strength and form a stop to prevent the in trusion of thepapers within said joint.

I have shown solid pins F in Figs. 1 and 2 as my preferable device; butthey may also be made hollow, as shown at F in the modification in Fig.4, in which case a perforatingneedle, F", may be used, its foot incasedwithin the hollow pin. Strong fly leaves J, with metal eyelets J, occupypositions below and above the block.

In operation the split back is unlocked by the disengagement of thecatches, and the upper compartment of the back is folded back, whichlatter operation lifts the hasps from the points of the pins and carriesthem around out of the way of filing the papers. At any timein theprocess of filling the block, by restraightening the back the hasps arebrought to again embrace the points of the pins, and the catches beingturned. both the hinged back and hasps are locked, whether the uppegcover is folded over or not, and the locking-catches, being metallic,make a firm lock, that is not liable to get out of repair, as is anelastic lock.

It is considered a great advantage in paperfile covers to have a solidback to give firmness to the block of loose filed papers; but, on theother hand, it is found to be objection- 5 able to have a rigid backthat refuses to ac commodate itself to the opening out and folding backof the file-block.

It will be seen that while when locked my invention has all theadvantages of a file-cover So with a solid back, on the other hand, whenunlocked, my hinged split back will open out even more freely than anelastic back, and has not the same tendency to spring back. It is alsoan advantage to have a ready means of 8 5 locking the file-papers inblock. My device by the one action both locks the hinged back and thehasp over the points of the pins, and the metal locking device does not,like elastic bands, lose its integrity and consequent tighto ness of itsgrip by use.

The use of stiii. fly-leavcs with metal eye lets for the passage of thepins and binding cords, when such are used, are useful to keep the blockintact when tissue presscopy papers 9 5 are filed, and when the block isfilled and taken from the cover and the cords are tied it makespractically a bound block of files and the combined block and cover areready for refilling.

I have shown myfile with three back straps r00 locked, to fold back andraise the hasps from the pins, all substantially as described, and [5for the purpose set forth.

2. In combined paper files and covers, the combination, with a splithinged back, cover, and perforating-needles mounted on said back, of astop attached to said back, substantially 20 as and for the purpose setforth.

\VILLIAM H. FOX.

In presence of- BENJN. A. KNIGHT, SAML. KNIGHT.

